Barcelona treated as Yamaha unveils new line-up.

Yamaha launched its 2004 MotoGP effort with an action-packed ceremony in the centre of Barcelona this afternoon [Thursday] as Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa were joined by Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 team-mates Marco Melandri and Norick Abe to unveil their race machines in full livery.

The unveiling took place for the first time in front of a packed press conference, but the local public were later treated to a stunning display of wheelies and burn-outs as the four riders took to the streets in the shadow of Montjuich Castle and showed off the power of their YZR-M1s.

Centre of attention throughout the build-up to the new season following his move from Honda to Yamaha, Italian world champion Rossi admitted that perhaps the biggest challenge of his MotoGP career lay ahead of him.

"For sure, it was a big decision, a big change and a big challenge for me, my mechanics and Yamaha," he said, "We know that it's going to be more difficult than last year, but I'm confident we can get some good results.

"My situation is different from 2003 - we know that we are still a little behind and need more time to work on the bike, so that means that there's not as much pressure to win each race. But all this is a big motivation! I am very happy with where we are at the moment and with what we've achieved in only two months - Yamaha has worked very hard and that looks good for the future."

Local star Checa, who starts his sixth season in the Yamaha factory team this year, said that he was expecting great things from the new campaign.

"Each year, you expect a lot from the new season but, so far this year, the impression I have is even more positive than usual," he explained, "Yamaha has made a big change since last year, and we'll have to wait and see what happens when the racing starts, but I do feel optimistic."

The Spaniard also admitted that he was far from overawed at having the world champion switch camps to partner him at Yamaha.

"It's a great pleasure for me to have Valentino as my team-mate and to stay working with Yamaha," he said, "He's the number one rider in the world, so it's a big motivation to ride with him."

Presented by BBC motorsport correspondent Suzi Perry, Barcelona's sports minister Pere Alcober welcomed the guests to Barcelona. He was followed on stage by Masao Furusawa, the general manager of Yamaha Motor Company's technology development division, who spoke briefly about his excitement for the coming season and the arrival of the five-time world champion.

Jean-Dominique Comolli and Pablo Isla, co-presidents of Altadis, the parent company of Yamaha's title sponsors Gauloises and Fortuna, also spoke for a short time about the forthcoming season and the importance of the MotoGP programme to their brands.

The riders were preceded on stage by their team managers - Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team director Davide Brivio and his Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 counterpart Herve Poncharal.

"It's been a very busy winter with something new to try and evaluate at every test," Brivio revealed, "But the machinery is getting better each time. It's going to be interesting at these last two tests to see where we are with the competition before we start racing."

After the press conference, the four riders took their M1 race bikes - complete with respective blue and red liveries - out onto the avenue to great applause and cheers from the crowd, who had been gathering for hours in the sunshine. The presentation finished just in time, however, as, after a 20-minute display, during which the riders took turns to show off their new-look bikes in the dramatic surroundings, the sun disappeared and Barcelona was treated to a violent hail and thunderstorm.

The Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team, which has completed four tests so far this year in Malaysia and Australia, begins the first of the two official IRTA group tests tomorrow at the Circuit de Catalunya. They will test there for three days before moving on to Jerez in southern Spain next week for the final test before the season-opening grand prix in South Africa on 18 April.

More reaction from the Yamaha launch to follow throughout the weekend...